I dropped her off this morning and saw girls (and boys) wearing grass skirts, some of them with coconut bras too. I’m not sure what else is going on, but it doesn’t seem very respectful of a native culture that we have seriously fucked over. Would they have a “Native American Day” and let kids come in wearing feathered headdresses?

Or am I reading too much into it?

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldOP
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    1 year ago

    Maybe. I just would like to know what a native Hawaiian would think. I know a Native American would likely be offended if they let kids in wearing feathered headdresses. Neither would be universally true, obviously. I’m just speaking in generalities. I guess since it seems offensive to me, I would like an argument for why it isn’t.

    • Call me Lenny/Leni@lemm.eeM
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      1 year ago

      That depends on the setting currently. A native Hawaiian back when the culture was in its prime might feel honored. These days, though, the culture has taken such a massive hit that the state is 90% empty, most of the land being owned by random billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg and Oprah Winfrey, many of the traditions having been replaced, and very little being left of their old society. It may come off as a “take what you like destroy what you don’t” kind of situation.

      • Montagge@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        Grass skirts weren’t used in Hawaii until the late 19th century and coconut bars never existed. Neither are Hawaiian culture, but both are stereotypes.

        • Call me Lenny/Leni@lemm.eeM
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          1 year ago

          I know this. Neither are practical for skirts/bras anyways. I don’t know any culture that couldn’t weave clothes or wear those clothes.

          • Montagge@kbin.social
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            1 year ago

            A native Hawaiian back when the culture was in its prime might feel honored.

            Now I’m confused

            • Call me Lenny/Leni@lemm.eeM
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              1 year ago

              I mean at the general idea of using their culture. At wearing grass skirts and coconut bras specifically? Yeah they’d feel kind of alienated.

    • walden@sub.wetshaving.social
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      1 year ago

      I know a Native American would likely be offended if they let kids in wearing feathered headdresses.

      Would they? Depends on the context I suppose. There’s a difference between celebrating other cultures and cultural appropriation.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldOP
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        1 year ago

        But isn’t it sort of the indigenous version of blackface? I’m honestly asking, I’m not trying to make a connection that isn’t there.

                • Call me Lenny/Leni@lemm.eeM
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                  1 year ago

                  Easy there, our friend. At this point in time, it’s hard not to see this kind of thing as a mental exercise. Even when it comes to my own culture, I have trouble knowing what is “offensive”. Identity is weird.

                  • JesseoftheNorth@kbin.social
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                    1 year ago

                    Yes, I agree that it isn’t that simple, and as I said in another comment here, people of a specific culture will have differing opinions and feelings on the matter. That doesn’t mean that non-Hawaiians get to decide what is offensive to Hawaiians, and that is what I am addressing.

                  • JesseoftheNorth@kbin.social
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                    1 year ago

                    There is a difference. OP is asking if indigenous Hawaiians would find it offensive. You have been stating that it isn’t as a matter of fact, even though it’s not for you decide.

          • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldOP
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            1 year ago

            But aren’t grass skirts ceremonial? Like part of religious ceremonies? I really would love a native Hawaiian to chime in.

              • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldOP
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                1 year ago

                Ok, then maybe that shouldn’t happen either? I’m just not big on cultural appropriation, especially when it’s one culture appropriating another culture they committed genocide against and never apologized for.

                • walden@sub.wetshaving.social
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                  1 year ago

                  Cultural appropriation is a debate of its own. The wikipedia page on cultural appropriation explains it better than I can. My view is that yes, it would be bad if people started wearing pa’u’s on a regular basis because they think it looks cool with no respect for where it came from. Wearing one to Hawaii day at school is not bad because the intention is to celebrate the culture.

                  Later this month I’m going to an Oktoberfest party and people will be wearing lederhosen. I live in the USA. Is that offensive?